Pallet-Track has delivered a new road safety initiative to improve staff awareness around the challenges faced by HGV drivers on the road and on site.
The Wolverhampton-based pallet network teamed up with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) to host an internal road safety training programme to mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
Its office team experienced some of the challenges HGV drivers navigate daily thanks to a visibility demonstration using a double deck trailer.
The interactive training session provided staff with the opportunity to gain a lorry driver’s view of the road with the help of blind spot mats, which highlight potential danger zones where pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users cannot be seen.
Visibility is one of the leading causes of accidents involving an HGV; in 2021, 207 people were killed in road collisions involving an HGV that were reported to the police, according to Department for Transport figures.
Participants took it in turns to sit in the cab and gain first-hand experience of the zones at the front, rear and sides of the vehicle and trailer where visibility is severely restricted.
The groups were also educated on the challenges HGV drivers encounter every day and how everyone can play their part in helping to keep all road users safe thanks to a talk from the RHA and training videos.
The interactive activity was positively received by the team and will be rolled out more widely as part of Pallet-Track’s ongoing safety drive.
Caroline Green, chief executive at Pallet-Track, said: “Safety is our biggest priority at Pallet-Track and we are committed to providing our team with regular training activities that enhance their knowledge around HGV safety.
“We would like to thank the team at the RHA for its support with developing an interactive safety activity that was engaging and had real impact.
“As an industry, it is essential that we work to improve awareness of the difficulties faced by lorry drivers every day on our roads and improve safety for all road users.
“To achieve greater awareness, Pallet-Track will be rolling out this initiative more widely and working with our local community to increase knowledge around HGV visibility restrictions.”
Simon Priest, RHA area manager, said: “There is nothing more important on our roads then keeping people safe. It was a thoroughly informative and productive day – we were delighted to be involved with Pallet-Track in delivering this life-saving training.”
For more information about Pallet-Track, visit www.pallet-track.co.uk.
